ANDREAS Isaksson's price tag will not earn him a place in Manchester City's first team.

That was manager Stuart Pearce's message after Sweden's World Cup goalkeeper finally reported fit for training.

An ankle injury and then a knee problem picked up in a training ground challenge have kept Isaksson on the sidelines since he joined the Blues from Rennes in the summer.

He arrived after a successful World Cup expecting to be the club's No 1 keeper following the departure of David James to Portsmouth.

But Nick Weaver's outstanding form has made life less sure for the 25-year-old Swede, who cost more than é2m.

Now Pearce has assured terrace hero Weaver that the only selection criteria will be form.

"Andreas is officially fit now and it will be a case of building him up with probably a reserve team outing next week," said the City boss.

"I don't have a tricky decision to make because everyone is fighting for a place and, in my eyes, the best man will get the shirt, no matter who that is.

Selection

"If that is Joe Hart, or if that is Kasper Schmeichel, Weaves or Andreas, that doesn't matter to me.

"Just because I brought a certain player in doesn't mean he is automatically one step up the ladder from someone who was here prior to me taking over. That will not be the case and has never been the case.

"You only have to look at the team selection every week to know that those players in form stay in the side."

Pearce is hoping that Isaksson's presence on the training ground after three months on the sidelines will spur Weaver and Hart on to even better form and make his team selection still more difficult. Schmeichel, meanwhile, has been in fine form on loan at League Two Bury.

"It has been very disappointing for me that Andreas has been out for so long, because the fee I paid for him was the second highest amount I have ever spent on a player," said the manager.

"I want him to put pressure on the other goalkeepers in training and in reserve-team matches; and then it is up to the man in possession of the first-team shirt to do well enough to keep the others out."

There is better news too on the injury front for midfielder Didi Hamann, who missed the trip to Charlton with a slight thigh strain but is expected back in training today.

"Didi wanted to be with us but I felt it more prudent that he stay behind, get some rest and make sure the injury wasn't aggravated," said Pearce.